KUSUMPUR PAHARI (New Delhi)

Nasser, a 12 year old from Orissa, is brought to Delhi on pretext of earning money for his family by their neighbour in the village who runs a tea stall in Delhi. He was made to work throughout the day and not even given sufficient food. He had no option but to go through the ordeal. What is his future?

Nasser is a glaring example of the menace of Child labour that so many children between the age group of 6- 14 have to face. While the Government, through the Universalisation of Elementary Education, is trying to bring these children back into the mainstream education it is certainly a big task at hand. Especially considering the fact that curbing this menace is humongous and without the support of each and everyone it is almost impossible. Nasser was brought to Ritinjali through a student of Ritinjali’s Night School and was enrolled at the Kusumpur Pahari learning centre. The learning centre at Kusumpur is being run for such urban deprived children between the age group of 6-14 to bring back these children into the mainstream education system. Ultimately its aim is to provide a path to these children to become socially responsible citizens of the country. Nasser, when he was brought to Ritinjali was completely illiterate and did not know to read or write. He was taught the alphabets and within a time frame of one month he has learnt the alphabets. Nasser today studies in class VIIth of the Government school in Mahipalpur, New Delhi, India. There are many such Nasser’s whose life’s Ritinjali tries to touch so that through the means of education it can empower these little ones to get back into the mainstream of the society and become capable of taking informed choices for their future . Ritinjali over the years through its Kusumpur centre (Set up in the year 2003) has been able to mainstream more than 300 children (30 in year 2004, 37 in year 2005, 97 in 2006, 40 in 2007 into the nearby Govt. Schools).In April 2008, 36 girls and 15 boys were mainstreamed to various Government schools and in 2009 and 2010 together we have been able to mainstream 75 children into the government schools.

Ritinjali wishes to continue with it’s mission of bringing these little ones back into the mainstream of the society and give them a bright future ahead.

About Kusumpur Pahari

Kusumpur Pahari - a slum with hundreds of poor migrant families from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh represents the flip side of India’s urban growth and mocks at the lopsided development scenario. Many of its poor inhabitants, now on the verge of sound displacement (this time by Delhi’s authorities for Urban Development) had once toiled for the construction of the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University. Situated at the heart of the posh southwest Delhi’s market, there is an all-encompassing atmosphere of dejection and hopelessness. Ritinjali in April 2003 began voluntary work here by involving children and community through the promotion of participatory learning. A library was also set up for this purpose. Today, the site is visited by scores of out-of school children, who come to learn on a daily basis under; several women and men also. benefit from the income generation activities. Ritinjali initiated its work in Kusumpur Pahari with a view to cater to non-formal education, hygiene and development of entrepreneurial skills. It was envisioned that the programmes would be designed as per the needs of the local community. Learning Centres, theatre workshops, income generation activities, picnics and a lot more are now a part and parcel of the lives of thousands that inhabit Kusumpur.

Ritinjali’s Learning Centre at Kusumpur Pahari provides education to out-of school children between the age group of 6 to 14 years with the objective of educating the children up to an optimum level so that they can get mainstreamed into the formal education system. In the short history of the centre it has been able to expand its purview from being just a Learning Centre to being a hub of community activity. The Centre also doubles up as a gymnasium for the youth from the community. A Tailoring course is also conducted for the women of the community. A Beautician course has also been started for the women of the community. The women are also encouraged to stitch bags, cushion covers and quilts and generate income for themselves and their families. The Centres Head and teachers also counsel them in financial management and are helping them in opening bank accounts. An adult literacy programme is also in the offing. The teachers at Kusumpur regularly visit the homes and families of the children. The teachers visit the various blocks of Kusumpur Pahari on a regular basis. They have been able to effectively build a personal support with the parents of the children. It has also helped them to develop a deeper understanding of children on the day-today basis.